A Central Criminal Court jury has been told that items believed to belong to a Galway schoolgirl who was raped and killed on a western beach were found close to the scene in follow-up searches by gardai.
Gardai gave evidence of the discovery of the schoolgirl's watch, her silver pendant and chain, and of briefs believed to have been hers. Members of her family left distressed as some of the exhibits were shown.
A 26-year-old Co Galway man, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of the 17-year-old girl and two counts of rape on December 6th, 1998.
A garda said he found the face of a watch identified as the one she wore as he searched the area at 9.30 p.m. on the day the body was discovered. He said the watch was stopped at 4.30 p.m. He found the watch face about 15 feet from the body. He told Mr Barry White SC, defending, that the rocky ravine in which the body lay was "probably deeper" than six to 10 feet.
Another garda said he found a pair of women's panties a few feet from where a silver chain and pendant were found. Garda Tom McGovern said he found the small silver half-heart pendant and light silver chain in a laneway approaching the shore. He found them in a grassy part of the laneway between the wheel tracks of a vehicle.
In cross-examination, Garda McGovern said the first thing he found that morning in grass nearer the water was a receipt from Tesco's in Galway which he believed was dated December 5th, 1998, though he wasn't certain about that.
There was a time on the receipt. "As I recall it was some time after 2 p.m. on the 5th, if it was the 5th, and I believe it was," he said. He also found a lighting device used in diving and camping and two cellophane wrappers, he believed for packets of 10 cigarettes. About half a mile away, he found a car bumper section with a VW symbol on it which "appeared to have been there for some time".
Another garda said that at 8.15 a.m. on December 7th, he found a blue eyeliner pencil about 15-16 yards from where the body was found, on a grassy area above the high water mark.
The jury also heard evidence of sightings of the accused man in the local village on the night of the killing. It was told that he voluntarily made a statement at a Galway Garda station on December 8th and while there, agreed to give a blood sample. He was taken into custody at the station on December 15th, 1998.
The trial continues on Monday before Mr Justice Smith and a jury.